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Seizing Success 2011: Annual Leadership Conference workshops and seminars

Workshops and mini plenaries

Wednesday 15 June

Highly reliable schools – a proven success model

Peter Denny, Louise Brierley and Helen Bulbeck, Senior Partners at Zinnia Education

Your school can achieve outstanding sustainable results faster than you thought possible – in just 100 days.

Our Highly Reliable Schools Model is a proven success method, delivering sustained improvement and outstanding results, year after year. Rooted in practitioner research, it combines tried and tested tools with a coaching approach to increase commitment and enjoyment in teachers and children.

Come along and find out how to embrace the talent of your team. Learn how you can use their skills and experience in a disciplined and aligned way to re-energise your school.

View the presentation: Highly reliable schools - a proven success model

Thursday 16 June – morning session

Teaching school alliances – what can they do for me?

Andy Buck, Director (Teaching Schools), National College
Vicky Beer, Headteacher, Ashton-on-Mersey School, Trafford

One of the most exciting developments in schools in recent years has been the growth of school-to-school improvement and collaboration. School leaders across the country are recognising that by working with other schools and sharing their learning, excellent practice and innovative ideas, they and their school can continue to improve what they do, whilst supporting improvement in other schools at the same time. Being part of a teaching school alliance means all schools can benefit. This workshop aims to explore the benefits of the approach but will also give all participants the opportunity to help the National College shape the way it develops this important work.

View the presentation: Teaching school alliances - what can they do for me?

Leadership for closing the gap

Darran Lee, Headteacher, Mills Hill Primary School, Oldham
Simon Rea, ISOS Partnership
Robert Hill, Robert Hill Consulting
Rachel Macfarlane, Headteacher, Walthamstow School For Girls, London

Closing the gap in outcomes, in particular between more advantaged and disadvantaged learners through the pupil premium, is at the heart of the government's ambition. This workshop will explore research evidence and practical strategies adopted by leaders – including national leaders of education – to narrow and close gaps. It will include interactive sessions drawn from a National College module on Leadership to Close the Gap which is currently being developed.

View the presentation: Leadership for closing the gap

Developing, leading and sustaining sustainability in schools

Bill Jerman, Headteacher, Hampton Hill Junior School, Middlesex
Kate Quirin, Sustainability Leader at Hampton Hill Junior School, Middlesex, assisted by four eco ambassadors from Hampton Hill
Damian Burke, Headteacher, Hampton Infant School, Middlesex

This workshop, led by teachers and pupils from schools in Richmond, south west London, will highlight the importance of sustainability in schools in terms of pupil engagement, teaching and learning, and curriculum. There will be case studies and practical ideas for developing sustainability and consideration of leadership challenges and how schools can work with other schools and the wider community. Pupils will share their stories of being eco ambassadors and what that means to them.

Evaluating your performance and improving peer learning in an era of increased accountability

Melanie Warnes, Headteacher, The Castle School, South Gloucestershire
Chris Kirk, Partner in PwC’s education practice

“Know yourself, but also know others ... then act.”

In the context of increased accountability and decreased support mechanisms for schools, how can rigorous self-evaluation provide a benchmark for understanding performance, backed up by a supportive and challenging peer group?

This workshop is about developing strong support networks, exchanging meaningful data and benchmarking progress. It will explore the principles of how school leaders gain profound knowledge of their own school and methods for building that knowledge in data rich partnership with other schools.

View the presentation: Evaluating your performance and improving peer learning in an era of increased accountability

New approaches to school improvement in localities

Prof David H Hargreaves
David Carter, Executive Principal, John Cabot Learning Federation, Bristol
Pete Maunder, Headteacher, Oldway Primary School, Paignton
Nick Hudson, Corporate Director People, Wigan Council

The White Paper signalled the government’s intention to introduce a model of school improvement based on school-to-school support, including a doubling in the numbers of national and local leaders of education and the establishment of teaching schools. Since then local authorities have been asked to develop plans to address under-performance and the Department for Education has announced a new team to support their work, particularly with schools below the new floor targets. This session brings together a director of children’s services, the chief executive of a chain of schools and two national leaders of education. Professor David Hargreaves will chair the session, asking members of the panel to outline their thinking on the future school improvement landscape and consider the implications for schools and local authorities.

Making the most of your budget

Viv Keller-Garnett, Headteacher, Ashby Upper School, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
Alex Green, Headteacher, Abington High School, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire
Paul Goodman, Income Generation Manager, Candleby Lane School, Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire
Trevor Summerson, Head of School Business Management & Efficiency, National College

This cross-phase workshop will explore ways of making the most of resources at times of financial constraint.

Leaders from primary and secondary schools will illustrate the links between financial planning and planning the curriculum and school improvement and explore ways of increasing resources and generating income.

It will be an opportunity for participants to share their strategies for securing the best for less.

View the presentation: Making the most of your budget

How the world’s most improved school systems keep getting better

Sir Michael Barber, Expert partner in the Global Public Sector Practice, McKinsey and Company

Participants will hear first hand a presentation on the recent McKinsey report (How the World's Most Improved School Systems Keep Getting Better), which has received worldwide attention and is influencing policy makers in many countries. The report is the first to set out a conceptual framework which encompasses all the world's education systems regardless of the stage of development, and to indicate which policy combinations are most likely to work as a system improves.

There will be plenty of time for discussion, debate and questions about the report's finding and what the implications might be for England.

Turning creativity into clear results

Paul Collard, Chief Executive, Creativity, Culture and Education

Using EU and OECD projections on the changing nature of the European workforce, Paul will identify the skills required by young people to succeed in the 21st century economy. He will go on to look at how education is currently structured and compare it with programmes developed and delivered by Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE). Using original data commissioned by CCE he will show how such programmes can improve teaching skills, motivate pupils, transform behaviour and raise attainment. He will include detailed case studies and videos created by young people to illustrate his theme.

Free schools - progress and opportunities

Rachel Wolf, Director, New Schools Network
Dr Elizabeth Sidwell, Schools Commissioner for England

This session will explore the free school policy, its progress to date and how schools, headteachers and national leaders can become involved. We will discuss sponsorship of free schools, partnership and sharing of expertise – and what can be expected in the next five years.

View the presentation: Free schools - progress and opportunities

Thursday 16 June – afternoon session

The maintained sector and independent sector working in partnership

Jill Berry, J Berry Associates Ltd
Deborah Odysseas-Bailey, Headteacher, Babington House School, Chislehurst
Mark Ronan, Headteacher, Pocklington School, Pocklington
Martin Green, Headteacher, Driffield School, Driffield

This workshop will focus on how leaders of maintained schools and independent schools can work with and learn from each other. It will be particularly relevant to those who have experience of, or who are considering working across the sectors, and those who see in the academy and free schools initiatives the opportunity for closer collaboration at a time when the differences between leadership in the two sectors are being, to some extent, eroded. It will examine what leaders across the sectors have in common and how partnership across schools can lead to mutual benefit and a richer experience for the leaders, the staff and the young people in these schools.

View the presentation: The maintained sector and independent sector working in partnership

Becoming an academy – lessons learned

Tom Clark, Executive Chairman, FASNA
John Dunford, John Dunford Consulting
Teresa Tunnadine, The Compton School, Finchley
Andrew Fielder, Headteacher, Sandy Hill Academy, St Austell

In July 2010, the Academies Act was passed by parliament enabling all schools in England the freedom to become an academy, subject to the conditions laid down by the Secretary of State.

As the programme gathers momentum, this session, drawing on new National College research, will share what we know about the conversion journey, including the opportunities and challenges of becoming an academy and the implications for leaders and leadership.

Tom Clark will chair this session, Dr John Dunford will share the findings from the new academies research project and two practitioners, Teresa Tunnadine and Andrew Fielder, will share their experiences of converting to academy status from a primary and secondary perspective.

View the presentation: Becoming an academy - lessons learned

Leadership of creative, achieving networks

Pam Mundy, Lead Associate, Children’s Centre Leaders Network
Bob Pattenden, Headteacher, Dunmore Primary School, Abingdon
Bill Jerman, Headteacher, Hampton Hill Junior School, Middlesex
Crin Whelan, Children’s Centre Leader, Penzance and Newlyn Children's Centres, Cornwall

Frederick Herzberg suggests “the most powerful workforce motivators offer opportunity to”:

  • learn
  • grow in responsibility
  • contribute
  • be recognised

This workshop will explore how leaders can influence effective networking where creativity and collaboration result in action and outcomes at a range of levels.

Discussion will include how leaders of effective networks:

  • nurture individual development
  • cultivate and explore the full range of resource capabilities available
  • drive innovation and drop outdated approaches
  • create and source new capabilities, infusing traditional offerings with new ideas
  • combine aspects and attributes that work
  • counteract negatives and reaffirm shared values

By the end of the workshop participants will have ideas to encourage teams to actively participate in the creation of innovative networks that develop shared meaning and content rather than passively receiving it and to do so with others rather than alone.

Collaborating on a new model of leadership

Deryn Harvey, National College Associate, Models and Partnerships
Sarah Coleman, Research and Development Manager, National College
David Baldwin, Director, North Tyneside Learning Trust and Headteacher, Churchill Community College, Tyne and Wear
Chris Archer, Board Member, Nottingham City Heads Limited Company
Sandra Roberts, Chief Education Officer, Southend Education Trust

In this interactive carousel-style workshop you will enjoy a conversation with two, or three, innovative collaborations and be inspired. Each will show how, with their local authority, they have arrived at a collective solution around a local “big issue”.

North Tyneside will tell the story of how trust (30 schools) is raising standards alongside their local authority, local universities and businesses.

A Nottingham headteacher will show how a group of secondary schools, having formed a limited company, are now commissioned by the local authority to reduce exclusions.

From the Southend Education Trust, a social enterprise, you will learn how Southend schools are realising their aim of “creating a learning town".

Creating a self-improving school system

Prof David H Hargreaves
Darran Lee, Headteacher, Mills Hill Primary School, Oldham
Kieran Osbourne, Headteacher, Hayes School, Bromley

The White Paper, The Importance of Teaching, makes clear the government’s aim to develop a self-improving system of schools, in which school leaders work together to drive improvement through teaching schools, school-to-school support and wider system leadership.

This workshop will explore what a self-improving system means in theory and practice. Drawing on his 2010 thinkpiece for the College on this theme, Professor David Hargreaves will outline the key elements and discuss practical examples and implications for leaders with two headteachers, Darran Lee and Kieran Osbourne.

Achievement for all - it’s a matter of leadership

Sonia Blandford, Achievement for All
Chris Wheatley, Headteacher, Candleby Lane School, Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire
John Dowd, Headteacher, Haverstock School Business & Enterprise College, Camden

This workshop will showcase the Achievement for All (AfA) project, which focused initially on the achievement of children and young people identified with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). However, the project is also having a profound impact on the achievement of all pupils in the primary, secondary and special schools involved in the pilot.

Participants will hear how effective, inclusive leadership has developed the three key strands of the project: assessment, tracking and intervention; structured conversations with parents; and provision for developing wider outcomes. The workshop will also consider how AfA supports the key themes of the SEN Green Paper ‘Support and aspiration’, and its potential as an effective strategy for school improvement.

The workshop will draw on the experience of primary and secondary school leaders, illustrating the opportunities and challenges which leaders have faced in changing practice and realising benefits for all pupils.

View the presentation: Achievement for all - it's a matter of leadership

It takes two – a headteacher and school business manager’s perspective

Nicola Shipman, Executive Headteacher, Fox Hill and Monteney Primary Schools, Sheffield
Morag Somerville, Business Manager, Fox Hill and Monteney Primary Schools, Sheffield
Trevor Summerson, Head of School Business Management & Efficiency, National College

Effective staff relationships lead to improvements in children’s achievements and attainment. So, how can you can develop an effective working relationship between the head, school business manager and the school leadership team? This workshop will explore the approach adopted by one school. They talk about system leadership challenges in relation to succession planning and budgets/resources, involving the community and business, and collaborative working and how it saves money –  both in terms of procurement and structures across schools.

View the presentation: It takes two - a headteacher and school business manager's perspective

Ensuring every school fulfils its promise – the New York experience

John White, Superintendent of the Louisiana Recovery School District of Louisiana

John White is the newly appointed superintendent of the Louisiana Recovery School District. He previously served as the deputy chancellor for talent, labor, and innovation at the New York City Department of Education, where he oversaw human capital development; management of the school portfolio; and management of the Innovation Zone, a network of schools piloting industry-changing products. Marc Sternberg, deputy chancellor of New York, said of White, "There is not a more qualified, visionary, inspiring urban school leader in the country than John. Having been a star teacher John has lived the reality that far too many public school children know: too many of our schools are broken. As a master of the reform here in New York, John is unafraid of the tough decisions necessary to fix that. He will not rest until every family is served and every school fulfils its promise."

Lessons from educational change in Finland

Pasi Sahlberg, Director General of CIMO in Helsinki and an educator, researcher and school improvement activist

Finland has been at the centre of the global education scene for a decade now. The Finnish education system is one of the few that has been able to achieve both high student learning and system-wide equity simultaneously. This presentation describes how Finland has transformed its education system from mediocre in the 1980s into top of the class just a couple of decades later. Rather than providing a typical list of possible factors that may drive high educational performance, this presentation will discuss policy paradoxes that are typical to educational change in Finland. A conclusion is that the Finnish way of change is very different to what is known as global educational reform movement.

Applying new thinking on leadership

Hilarie Owen, Chief Executive, Institute of Leadership

Ground-breaking research carried out by Hilarie Owen at the Institute of Leadership in the UK and with colleagues in the US and Australia brings a new understanding of the complex concept of leadership. Here, Owen will present those new findings and how they provide fresh challenges in leadership learning and the impact they have on schools and learning.

For some, it will involve a paradigm shift including new concepts but the emphasis on this presentation is how delegates can take the learning back to their workplace and apply it to improve behaviours and deal better with change starting with themselves.

View the presentation: Applying new thinking on leadership

Optional sessions

Sponsor and partner seminars – Wednesday 15 June 4pm

HeadRoom – cultural entitlement and school improvement

Sabrina Broadbent, Schools Director, FILMCLUB
Michael Shaw, Opinion Editor, the TES
Cathal Lynch, Director of Education, Arc

Michael Shaw will start the discussion with a round up of recent educational issues of key concern to headteachers. Cathal Lynch will then present ‘Creativity and Cultural Entitlement – 5 Keys to School Improvement’, his work on the Napton curriculum which is built around creative learning opportunities. Cathal is Director of Education at Arc and has worked in a range of educational settings in and around Birmingham over many years, specialising in promoting standards in literacy and managing behavior. Arc Napton opened in September 2007 and was found by Osted to be outstanding in all areas of provision in October 2008. Sabrina Broadbent will wind up the seminar with a plenary and screening of FILMCLUB’s ‘Does Culture Matter?’

Seizing the moment – how school and college leaders can make the most of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Nick Fuller, Head of Education, LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games)
Caroline Sidell, Sunday Times Teacher of the Year, South Bromsgrove High School

In less than three and a half school terms, the UK will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In this seminar, delegates will hear about the unique opportunities on offer to young people through Get Set, the official London 2012 education programme, and the opportunities for school and college leaders to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime event.

South Bromsgrove High is using London 2012 to bring the school community together and enrich learning, and has successfully joined the Get Set network reward and recognition scheme. Find out how the school is seizing this opportunity for the benefit of students and community.

Creativity – let’s give it a go!

Bruce Murray, Education Development Manager, RM Education
Amanda Wilson, Education Consultant, RM Education

“An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.” (Edwin Land)

As leaders, how can we encourage the use of ICT to support creativity in our schools?

This hands-on session will inspire and challenge your thinking about the use of ICT tools to support creativity and improve engagement.

Join us to explore a range of creative ICT tools and activities, and see how other schools have unleashed their creative potential.

You’ll leave the session with some practical ideas and free resources that you can use in school tomorrow.

Got a question about business management in schools?

School Business Manager (SBM) Advocates
James Evans, Foot Anstey Solicitors

Join this seminar to hear School Business Manager (SBM) Advocates’ experiences of some of the things you may be considering for your school, including:

  • forming a school company (with or without charitable status)
  • becoming an academy (information about the College/CIPFA Financial reporting for academies training programme)
  • restructuring your school staff structure
  • sharing an SBM over a cluster of schools
  • marketing your school (finding links with community businesses)
  • becoming specialist leaders of education (SBM perspective)
  • finding better value for money: finance and budget planning
  • becoming a greener school

Drop into this session to discuss any of the above topics with SBM Advocates.

Fringe seminars

Thursday 16 June 8am

How international schools are coping with reduced budgets and resources

Linda Lee, President, Association of Business Managers in Victorian State Schools, Australia
John Musso, Executive Director/Chuck Lindermann, President, Association of School Business Officials International, USA
Paul Bennett, Director (Primary School Leadership), National College

Times have changed. The era when resources steadily increased year on year is well past us and today resource savings and income generation are top of the agenda at many senior leadership team meetings nationwide.

Hear how other nations have approached the same issues – our three speakers will discuss how school business managers and officials have reacted in their respective countries.

View the presentation: How international schools are coping with reduced budgets and resources

Go4it

Anne Evans, Chief Executive Officer, HTI
Tracey Maude, Go4it Manager, HTI
Wendy Briscoe, Headteacher, Queen Victoria Primary School, Dudley
Julie Rees, Headteacher, Ledbury Primary School, Ledbury

School leaders are determined to give young people the best chance in life. However, busy schedules, SATs, exams, resources and demands can often hijack our best endeavours.

This seminar will share the passion of headteachers who have ‘gone for it’, placing a ‘can-do’ culture at the heart of their teaching and learning.

If you value music, dance, creativity and enhanced learning, why not celebrate your attributes? You believe that children need a rounded education, you recognise that learning happens in various settings (beyond the classroom); clearly you are already ‘going for it’. This seminar will share the whole school values and benefits.

The SEN Green Paper: what does it mean for you?

Laura Cunningham, Assistant Director, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Division, Department for Education
Elaine Simpson, Global Director for Education and Children’s Services, Serco

The government has published its SEN Green Paper entitled 'Support and Aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs and disability', and is in the midst of consultation, to conclude at the end of June. The Green Paper proposes a range of measures including a new approach to assessment and statementing, better mechanisms to ensure early identification of special needs in schools and settings, and the option of a personal budget by 2014 for all families with children with a statement of SEN or a new Education, Health and Care Plan.

View the presentation: The SEN Green Paper - what does it mean for you?

Friday 17 June 8am

It all adds up: improving mathematics with the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM)

Jack Jackson, Headteacher, Launceston College
Steve Lomax, Mathematics Advisor, Gloucester County Council

Michael Gove recently announced that, “We will commission a maths continuing professional development support programme… that will build on the achievements of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) and draw on local leaders of education and national leaders of education as the network of teaching schools develops.”

The NCETM has been successful in improving the teaching and learning at all stages of mathematics and aims to be a hub for professional networking and collaborative development of successful practice. This session will highlight how schools have used resources from the NCETM to support other schools in improving mathematics.

National College – working internationally

Jonathan Dale, Managing Director (International), National College

The National College is the first college anywhere in the world uniquely dedicated to the professional development of school leaders.

We know that effective school leadership is essential to improving outcomes for children and young people – giving them the best start in life and helping them to achieve. Our mission is to develop and support world-class leaders with the talent and vision to change lives.

The work that we do is nationally and internationally recognised as a benchmark for excellence in leadership development. It draws on the best leadership research from around the world – but more importantly, it’s grounded in our expert understanding of the challenges that schools and education systems face.

We work with an increasing number of schools, ministries of education and other organisations, both overseas and in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. We offer an affordable, sustainable approach to leadership development that can be tailored to meet your local needs. Our products and services include international membership, leadership development programmes that can be delivered in the UK and internationally, and expert consultancy services.

Jonathan Dale, Managing Director, International, will describe the College’s approach in more detail and talk about how these services can be accessed. The seminar is aimed at international delegates and organisations who may be interested in working in partnership with the College’s International Unit on future projects.

This session will focus on the implications of these proposed changes for schools and will provide an opportunity to hear from headteachers who will share experiences on what has worked well from a range of perspectives. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss what type of support schools might need to ensure the change is successful.

View the presentation: National College - working internationally